Business Program FAQs

Unlike other business programs, Becker College’s business program focuses on the total development of the student. This includes not only high-quality academics and experiential training, but also the development of important personal value and business value skills. This combination of technical and business skills, which begins in a student’s freshman year, goes further than other business programs. Becker’s business program is closely aligned with the evolving jobs market, with business concentrations and specialization areas that are market-driven. In addition, the external business community is an active participant in our business program, providing hands-on experiential training, mentorships, and financial support for specialized projects and skills development.

Becker College is accredited campus-wide by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), a national organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This means that Becker College meets and exceeds standards for quality in curriculum, faculty, student services, and financial stability. NEASC accreditation assures students:

Access to federal and state financial aid programs

Degrees that are recognized and valued by employers and other educational institutions

Credits can be transferred from one institution to another

Becker continually evaluates additional or specialized accreditation that adds value to the educational experience of students.

NOTE: The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) is one of a number of U.S. business school accrediting institutions. The IACBE uses an outcomes-based assessment of business teaching and learning. While Becker recognizes IACBE, we believe it is important to focus on outcomes for teaching and learning that provide the broader combination of academics, experiential learning, and desired business value skills, making the student more confident and prepared for entry into a dynamic business environment. Our 99% placement rate for employment or further study continues to be an excellent indicator of investment and employability as a result of a Becker College business degree.

Business students entering an area of concentration go through a general business education in the first year with more specialized education beginning the second year. Switching in the first year is easily accommodated. Depending on the area of concentration, switching can occur in the second year and beyond, based upon a review of the overall program leading to graduation.

Project management graduates are in high demand in the business environment. They understand the inner workings of organizations and can communicate with customers, stakeholders, suppliers, and functional leaders within a company. Project managers play a key role in an organization by supporting good business decisions and on-time operational activities. Key roles of a project manager include:

Big data analytics is a rapidly growing market, driven by the need for more and better information on which to base good business decisions. Essentially, big data analytics is business intelligence that spans the macro environment, competitive environment, and business operations. Big data analytics will continue to grow with the demand for improved business intelligence needs and include the new field of predictive analytics. Job areas include:

Internships are one form of experiential training offered to students in the business program. Generally, internships are offered to students in their junior and senior year. The Becker College business program provides flexibility so internships can be done earlier, using a business elective. Students gain experience with the business environment beginning in their freshman year, with business problem simulations, mentorships with external business executives focusing on current business problems and opportunities, and internships with local businesses, working hands-on to gain experience in a company’s supply chain.

A four-year business degree has high value. This degree adequately prepares students to progress to a graduate degree if desired, and allows students the time necessary to build a combination of technical, experiential, and business value skills. Students have time to explore, evaluate, and focus on an area of business and, once such focus has been achieved, they can build important external business contacts and networks to facilitate a smooth transition into the business environment.

In addition, companies are anxious to hire business students with a four-year undergraduate degree because such students have a good foundation in business basics, experiential training, and business value skills. Companies can then put new hires into intensive training programs that help to develop more confidence, which results in increased employee job satisfaction and productivity.

An MBA remains an important advanced degree in business and provides a student with a more comprehensive understanding of a business supply chain.Many employers are focusing recruitment on new business student hires that have domain expertise in specific areas of the business supply chain, which is often achieved with a master’s level education. The economic challenges businesses have faced over the last eight years have forced companies to look for efficiencies within their supply chain of activities. Domain expertise in a company’s supply chain is a highly desired competence in new employees. Based on input from its business advisors, Becker College’s Department of Business is evaluating the addition of graduate-level programs that are consistent with evolving business needs.

Becker College has a 99% graduate placement rate for employment or further study. From corporations to start-ups, from nonprofits to a wide range of businesses and industries, graduates of Becker College’s business graduates are prepared to thrive, contribute to, and lead in a global society. Some of the companies where our graduates work include: UMass Memorial Hospital, TJX Companies, Inc., the U.S. Coast Guard, Robert Half International, Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance and Financial Services, Genzyme Corporation, PepsiCo, EMC, the Dow Chemical Company, the Pawtucket Red Sox, Diversified Specialty Pharmacy, and Babcock Power.

Degrees pursued by our business program graduates include: MBA, MBA/MPA, MSW, and M.A. They attend such prestigious schools as Northeastern University, Wheelock College, Clark University, Worcester State University, Assumption College, University of New Haven, and Southern New Hampshire University.